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Sonic Classic Collection - DS

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Summary:

Sonic Classic Collection allows fans both old and new to speed through the much loved zones of the four original Sega Genesis adventures, in a bid to collect the chaos emeralds and save the world. Optimized to take full advantage of the Nintendo DS system, Sonic Classic Collection will feature a new save anywhere feature, a first in this original series, meaning that the games can be enjoyed anywhere, anytime.

6.5

Designed to emulate the original Genesis/Mega drive hardware, the classic Sonic Trilogy with its lock-on spin-off is produced fully function on any system compatible with the mentioned hardware. The 16-bit platforms of Nintendo DS SEGA has advanced to the Nintendo handheld without any mishaps and has remained totally still in one piece – Well, as intact as a portable would allow and could handle. The apparent lesser resolution is an encumbrance but not enough of a big issue to kill the game. However, the lack of sophistication in the production is quite a different story. It’s like a slapdash kind of work where you just put the games together, maybe a couple of artwork here and there…that’s it! If you’re contented with that kind of presentation, it can be a respectable package for fair value, I suppose.

Now, for the inclusive games. You must already be aware that it’s a compilation of four games, namely: Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic 2, Sonic 3, and Sonic & Knuckles – with the add-on lock-on element to play Knuckles in Sonic 2 and Sonic 3. And that’s that; that’s about everything you get from the package. You certainly can’t expect some fireworks in the production; just a stationary Menu for “Select Game” with just the most fundamental of character art as legacy material.

At least, Creative Assembly, the developers of the compilation have enough to prove that the Nintendo DS can essentially replicate SEGA Genesis, albeit with some understated flaws. Apparently, the Nintendo DS display doesn’t have adequate resolution to accurately stand for the Genesis visuals; so to rectify this, the erstwhile “eliminate the scan lines and squeeze the image” trick was employed to the final outcome. Fortunately, it does a good work of flaunting how Sonic the Hedgehog Genesis games still provide fun and entertainment even after twenty years.

In conclusion, Sonic Classic Collection for Nintendo DS may be considered a decent but substandard compilation and just obviously shouts to the world, “low-budget; shortened development cycle!” Just face it: four games that could have been excellent Sonic games imported into precise but haphazard compilation.